Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Boston, MA
🏆 Aurora leads 14 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,943
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
181,405
Boston
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Homes cost $443k less ($241,600 vs $684,900)
58% less violent crime than Boston
Rent averages $519/mo less ($1,462 vs $1,981)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.6%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Cons
Median income trails Boston by $3,269/yr
Boston, MA
Pros
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 37°F vs 31°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $3,269 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Aurora
Violent Crime
58% lower
266.0 vs 627.9 per 100k
Aurora
Median Home Value
$443k less
$241,600 vs $684,900
Aurora
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Boston
Median Income
$3,269
$89,212 vs $85,943/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Boston, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $684,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,981⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 | $89,212 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 16.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 165⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A (122) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 53.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 88.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Boston |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 36.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 43.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" ✓ Less | 49.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 | 665,945 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 34.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 15.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 12.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Boston's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Aurora leads 14 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 14 and Boston wins 9. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Aurora to Boston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $684,900 median home), income ($85,943 vs $89,212), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Boston, MA are about 886 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.